Note 8 - Income Taxes (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2019

Notes Tables

Schedule of Components of Income Tax Expense (Benefit) [Table Text Block]

(in thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Federal, current	$	(1,174	)	$	-		$	(7,780	)
Federal, deferred		3,976			14,117			(28,055	)
State, current		1,077			1,410			(1,737	)
State, deferred		(415	)		(20	)		5,430
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	3,464		$	15,507		$	(32,142	)

Schedule of Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation [Table Text Block]

(in thousands)	2019			2018			2017
Computed "expected" income tax expense	$	2,508		$	12,182		$	8,154
State income taxes, net of federal income tax effect		(351	)		2,610			862
831(b) election		(393	)		(200	)		(290	)
Per diem allowances		1,450			1,446			2,145
Tax contingency accruals		601			(57	)		(43	)
Valuation allowance, net		321			-			(1,167	)
Tax credits		(377	)		(968	)		(1,352	)
Impact of Tax Act remeasurement		-			-			(40,123	)
Excess tax benefits on share-based compensation		105			50			(457	)
Change in prior year estimates		(420	)		-			-
Other, net		20			444			129
Income tax expense (benefit)	$	3,464		$	15,507		$	(32,142	)

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities [Table Text Block]

(in thousands)	2019			2018
Deferred tax assets:
Insurance and claims	$	10,269		$	9,593
Net operating loss carryovers		25,849			10,260
Tax credits		10,942			11,985
Leased liability		15,668			-
Capital lease obligation		8,483			-
State bonus		6,576			5,938
Other		2,160			2,412
Valuation allowance		(385	)		(63	)
Total deferred tax assets		79,562			40,125
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property and equipment		(97,066	)		(87,939	)
Investment in partnership		(36,669	)		(26,066	)
Deferred fuel hedge		-			(73	)
ROU Asset- leases		(15,280	)		-
Other		(449	)		(569	)
Sec. 481(a) - capital leases		(7,462	)		-
Prepaid expenses		(2,966	)		(2,945	)
Total deferred tax liabilities		(159,892	)		(117,592	)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(80,330	)	$	(77,467	)

Summary of Income Tax Contingencies [Table Text Block]

	2019			2018			2017
Balance as of January 1,	$	1,796		$	1,924		$	2,051
Increases related to prior year tax positions		2,969			4			19
Decreases related to prior year positions		-			(9	)		(10	)
Increases related to current year tax positions		287			-			-
Decreases related to settlements with taxing authorities		(4,200	)		-			-
Decreases related to lapsing of statute of limitations		(29	)		(123	)		(136	)
Balance as of December 31,	$	823		$	1,796		$	1,924